Automatic gun.



' Patented Jan. 7, |902. y

A. VICKEHS. AUTMATIC GUN. (Applicaffin' med oct. 29, 1900.;

s sheets-shut (No Model.)

No. 690,799.4 Patented lan. 7, |902.

A. '.viKEns.

AUTUMATIC GUN.

- (Application filed cnzs, 1900.; (No Model.) l 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

1n: uonms Pcrzns co., PHoYo-LITMO.. wAsumm'oN. D. t:y

. Patented lan- 7, |902. WA. VICKER-S.

AUTOMATIC GUN. (Application med occ. 29, 1900.;

Ssneets sheer 3.

(No Model.)

No. 999,799. Patented 1an. 7, |992..

A.v vlcKERs.

lAUTIlMATIII GUN.

(Application filed oct. 29, 1900.)

(No Medef.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

ma A :ngi j@ ru: nofws mns so; mumumo.. msnmomn. n. c,

- 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

A. VICKERS.

VAUT'VLLVFHI. GUN.

(Application filed Oct. 29, 1900.1

Patented lari. 7, |962.

(No Model.)

SGS

ydinary Maxim gun are avoided.

" UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I ALBERT VIOKERS, OF WESTMINSTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO VIOKERS,

SONS it MAXIM, LIMITED, OF WESTMINSTER, ENGLAND.

AUTOMATIC GUN.-

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,799, dated January 7, 1902.

Application tiled October 29, 1900. Serial No. 34.825. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern/ Be it known that I, ALBERT VICKERs, steelmanufacturer, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at 32 Victoria street, Westminster, in the county of London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Guns, of Vwhich the following is aA specification.

This invention has reference generally to automatic guns of the class or kind in which the breech mechanism is operated by means of a crank turned about its axis in one direction' by the force of recoil and in the otherdirection by the reaction of a spring, most of the present improvements being particularly applicable to those guns which are constructed upon what is known as the five-motion feed principlethat-is to'say, those in which the lock is provided with a transversely-sliding cartridge-carrier that at each discharge of the gun acts, iirst, tovdraw a cartridge from the feed-belt; secondly, to'lower the cartridge into position for loading; thirdly, to thrust it into the barrel; fourthly, to rise and seize a new cartridge, and, fthly, to close rmly against the base of the cartridge in the cartridge-chamber after having fully completed its upward movement.

One of the'chief objects of the invention is to so improve the construction of such guns, as hereinafter described, that the parts therevof will be much simplified both as regards their manipulation and assemblage, as well as their manufacture. The improvements are such that anyone accustomed to thehandling of an ordinary Maxim gun will have no difficultyin Working the improved gun Without requiring any fresh drill. At the same time most if not all of the disadvantages that have hitherto attended the working of the or- It will be possible for the Various parts of the lock to be assembled without the aid of any tools. It will be easier than heretofore to change the barrel.A No riveting of the axis-pins of the pivotal parts of the lockis required, nor is there any necessity tofixthe said axis-pins in place with retaining pins or wires, the said Viaxis-pins being maintained in position by webs or tins on the side levers.

The crank *and connecting-rod are arranged to occupy a position of alinernent with each other when plates.

movement, which might'otherwise act to unduly retard the working of the gun. The cartridge-carrier stop hitherto used for limiting the descent of the carrier is now dispensed with,`the function of this stop being performed by the upper surface of the carrier-guides on y the recoil-plates. The joint of the toggle-links is constructed in such man ner that at each discharge of the gun and the bending of the toggle-links the lock will not immediately leave the breech of the barrel, but will be main'- tained in its closed position for a suiicient length of time to permit the projectile to leave the barrel and the pressure of the powder gases to diminish. The lifting-levers and parts c0- operating therewith for elevating the cartridge-carrier are so constructed that the said carrier is not only fully elevated prior to the nal closing movement of the lock, as aforesaid, but is also firmly supported and locked to the lock-casing in the firing position Without necessitating the construction of the said lifting-levers with sharpbearing-points and recesses, such as have been necessary in some forms of the lifting-levers hitherto used.

In order. that my said invention may be clearly-understood and readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe .the same more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure lis a side elevation. Figs. 2 and 2? when taken together are a longitudinal section,and Fig. 3a sectional plan,ofaMaxim gun provided with various of the improvements above specified. Fig. 4 is a side elevation, and Fig. .5 a longitudinal section, of the lock detached and drawn o n a larger scale. Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the side levers' provided with the aforesaid Webs. Fig. 7 is a plan of the lifting-levers. -Fig. 8 is a side elevation, and Fig. 9 a plan, of one of the recoil- Figs. l0 and 13 are elevations showing in a somewhat-diagrammatic manner the lock and toggle-links of a Maxim gun provided wilh the improved joint, the former figure representing the breech closed and the lat-ter the breech open. These figures also illustrate. a modified form of the lifting-levers IOO Iss

and the toe-pieces working in conjunction therewith. Fig.`ll is a plan of the togglejoint. Fig. 12 is an elevation of the lock, showing the said lifting-levers and toe-pieces more clearly.

In all the figures like reference-letters iudicate similar parts.

A A are the side plates of the casing, inclosing the breech mechanism. A is the hinged cover thereof.

B is the barrel.

C is the lock-casing.

D is the crank-shaft; D', the crank; D2, the crank-handle; D3, the fusee.

E is the connecting-rod for coupling the crank to the side levers E of the lock, said crank, connecting-rod, and side levers comprising the toggle-links hereinbefore mentioned.

F is the insee-spring.

G is the water-jacket; H, the trunnionblock, having a hole 7'1, for the trunnion-pin employed for connecting the gun to its stand or support. I is the end cap of the said Water-jacket, through which the muzzle of the barrel passes and enters the muzzle attachment J through a stuffing-box.

K is the foresight.

L is the tangent-sight.

M is the firing lever or trigger.v

N is the trigger-bar.

O is the handle-block by which the rear end of the casinginclosing the breech mechanism is closed.

P is the feed-block, and Q is the cartridgeejector tube.

Referring more particularly to Figs. l to 3, the water-jacket G is made of steel, with its walls parallel, so that said jacket is cylindrical-lhat is to say, does not vary in diameter throughout its length, as in water-jackets formerly made. The trunnion-block H, to which the rear end of the water-jacket is connected, is made of reduced diameter, and the forward end of the said jacket is jumped up or thickened on its interior at g. The shoulder g', which is thus formed, is curved, as represented in Fig. 2, so that when the barrel is being inserted in place in the gun the muzzle of the barrel will rise up the said curved shoulder, and will be thus directed into the conical opening t', leading to the stuffing-box 1l' of the end cap I. The barrel is thus capable of beingniuch more rapidly inserted in place than heretofore. The brass trough in the water-jacket is in the construction-of gun represented by these figures dispensed with.

The center of the crank-pin lies 'horizontally opposite the center of the crank-shaft when the breech is closed for the purpose already stated, and the web in the crank is cut away to allow of the assembling of the recoilplates and other parts with the crank in any angular position relatively to the said recoiling plates.

The flanges, which are usually formed on the outside of the recoil-plates or sliding frame a a, where they pass through the side plates A of the gun-casing adjacent to the crank-shaft D, are dispensed with at top and bottom, and the flanges which have hitherto been provided at the upper side of the said recoil-plates next to the side plates A have also been dispensed with, the thickness of the recoil-plates being now approximately uniform foralmosttheir entire length. Thelower righthand corner a of the said recoil-plates adjacent to the trunnion-block are now made with a curve of small radius ad, Fig. 8. I leave verylittle clearance between the edge @XX of this slightly-curved corner and the sleeve b on the barrel, which construction enables the recoil-plates to be kept almost rigid with the barrel and greatly facilitates the assemblage of the parts. The cartridge-carrier guides a2 on the upper edge of the said recoil-plates have been raised, for the reason hereinafter explained. The rear extensions a3 of the recoil-plates are located a short distance away from the interior surface of the plates A A, so as to be out of the plane of the filling-in pieces a4, Fig. 2, which are situated behind the recoil-plates. These filling-in pieces are made with flanges a5 on each side thereof, by

which they are kept in place, instead of by means of a V-groove at their edges, as heretofore, the inside anges being partly cut away in order to avoid the handle-block O, as best seen in Figs.- 2 and 3. The guides with which the side plates A have hitherto been provided for the recoil of the plates a are dispensed with.

The edge of the hinged cover A now lies ush with the casing iuclosing the breech mechanism for its entire length, the projections formerly provided on the side plates and the handle-block O being dispensed with to permit of this. The guide-blocks with which the sides of the said hinged cover A' have usually been provided are also dispensed IOO lIO

with, as likewise are the recesses iu the side plates for their reception.

The firing lever or trigger M is reduced in width at its lower end, as represented at m, Fig. 2, where it is formed with a curved eX- tremity, which is adapted to fit directly into a curved notch formed for its reception in the trigger-bar N, no connecting-pin being thus required. The trigger-bar is made of steel and is not provided with the usual groove for the reception of the tail of the hand-scar. It is of the same width throughout its length except at the rear portion, where its width is reduced. (See Fig. 3.) The firing lever or trigger M and the safety-catch R are held in place by split pins m and r', respectively.

The ordinary rear guide-stud for the trigger-bar is dispensed with, the function of the said stud being performed by the under side of the handle-block O being cut away to leave a passage between the lower end of the said handle-block and the upper surface of the plate A2 of the casing, (see Fig. 2,) which passage serves as a guide for the trigger-bar.

extend backward for the full length of the side plates A, the handle-block O being modified in-shape accordingly. The handle-block pin O extends through the said iianges A3 on the casing and is provided with a hanglle OX A for enabling the pin to be readily removed from the gun and replaced ,when desired. As the said handle-block can thus be very quickly and easily removed, there is now no necessity to provide a spy-hole in the handleblock for looking through the barrel nor a shutter for closing the said spy-hole. Consequently they are dispensed with.

The tail-spring c" (see Fig. 5) of the car-4 tridge-carrier C' is provided at the back thereof with ia horn-piece c2, which by lying against the face of thelock-casing keeps the said tailspring pressed forward against the carrier, with its toe-piece V,c3 projecting beyond the said face. A longitudinal groove c4 is formed inthe frontV face of the lock-casing at such a positionthat when the 'carrier descends the aforesaid horn-piece will enter the said groove and remain therei'nduri'ng a portion ofthe movementkof the said carrier; but when the carrier is near its lowest position the hornpiece cz'rides up the incline o8 at the bottom of the slot c4, thereby locking the'toe-piece c3. By this means the cartridge is retained firmly in the carrier until the said cartridge enters the ejector-tube Q andthe carrier commences to rise. VThe tail-.spring c' is riveted to the carrier, and the upper face of the toe-piece is made at an angle insteadof with a curve, as are also botl upper faces of the gib c5.' The horns c6 of the carrier are likewise of such shape that they lie iush with the top and back faces of the carrierLwhereby'the said horns are possessed of increased size. The top face of the cam-guides ai occupy a lower position thanheretofore in order to suit the increased size of the horns. isldispensed with, the Vuppervfaces of the guides dion the recoil-plates (whiohare, as

already stated, made higher than heretofore) serving to support and act as the stops for the carrier-horns.V l Y Y The seating in the faceof the carrier for the gib c5 has been removed and v,the gib formedof a shape to fill upthe gap thus 0bta ined. (See Fig. 5.) The gib thus presents a continuous surface at c to the cartridgehead and is able to hold the same more firmly and in a more truly` horizontal position than heretofore.

' he tumbler c?, the head-scar c?, and the safety-scar empare now held in position by loose pins, which project slightly beyond the side plates of the lock-casing C. The pins for the tumbler and hand-scar each have a slightly-countersunk head, andthe holes for them in the lock-casing are oo untersunkon bothsides, so that the said pins can beassembled in either direction. y The heads keep Ivhecarrier-stop Ythem in positionwhile the side levers and permit of said lifting-levers being insertedY into place, with the recessed portions o16 of their pivot-pin resting in the slots or spaces 017, Fig. 5. The distance-piece hitherto used on the lifting-lever pin is dispensed with, the shoulders formed by the recesses c16 and their engagement with the slots 017 serving the purpose of the distance-piece. The boss, which formerly only surrounded they hole for the lifting-lever pin, is now extended across the side of the lock-frame, as shown at 018, Fig. 4. The lugsc19 on the sides of the carrier and With which the lifting-levers engage extend completely across the carrier, as shown in Fig. 4, and the beveling on the sides of the carrier is now dispensedwith.' The stop c20 on the top front face of the lock-casing has been decreased indepth', and the part of the carrier whichcomes in contact with it is correspondingly increased for obtaining additional strength. For retaining the side levers E' connected to the lock-casing a cylindrical pin C21, having a head at one end, is used, the levers being recessed on one side, as shown at 022, Fig.- 6, so that the said pin can only be inserted from that side. The recoiling-plate on theside adjacent tothe head of the p in is formed with a rib 0.7,'Figs. 8 and 9, in such being left between the side plates of the lockcasingand the toe-pieces of the sidelevers for the reception o f these webs. The pin of the safety-Sear cw is kept in position by a curved fin cf, formed at the vforward end of vthe side leverspE, adjacent to their point of connection with the lock. The pin of the lock-mainspring ou is dispensed with, the said spring entering a recess formed in a block cl2, which is riveted to the lock-casing. (See Fig. 5.) This block cl2 also serves as a guide for facilitating the assemblage of the parts of the lock. The ends of the lifting-levers C2 where they engage with the lugs c19 on the carrier C are made flat instead of curved, as heretofore.

The connecting-rod Etsee Figs. 10, 11, and 12) is formed withfa slot e2, and the `adjacent end of the crank D carries the crank-pin d8, which 4extends through this slot. The said crank is provided with one or a pairofstuds or protuberances 019, andthe connecting-rod is formed with recesses@3 Ic?, withwhich the said protuberances cooperate. A 4

On theiiring of the gun the p ind8 travels IOC IIO

v E during this free motion of the pin d8 the lock would not be held against the breech end of the barrel, and the pressure of the powder gases would be able to drive the lock away from the barrel, and the said gases would escape into the gun-casing; but the aforesaid protuberances by sliding against the portion c5 of the connecting-rod com pensate for the lost motion and keep the connecting-rod pressed forward and the lock tightly held against the barrel until the crank D has traveled through a considerable angle, when the said protuberances enter the recesses e4 and by the continued movement of the crank are caused to exert a pull on the connecting-rod, and thereby open the breech. At the reverse movement of the crank the said protuberances, by operating to push the connecting-rod forward, close the breech.

In order to enable the end of the crank D', carrying the protuberances di), to be readily connected with the connecting-rod E, the said end of the crank is forked to embrace the adjacent end of the connecting-rod, as seen in Fig. 1l, the said protuberances CZ9 projecting inwardly from opposite sides of the fork, and the said pin d8 is separate from the other parts, so that it can be inserted in place after they have been coupled together.

The end eXX of the toe-piece e forms part of a curve struck from the center eX, and the portion 013 of the lifting-lever C2 on each side of the notch cuis likewise curved in correspondence with the curved end @XX of said toepiece e6. When the carrier C is depressed, the notch c14 in the lifting-lever'lies adjacent to the edge c7 of the toe-piece, and when the latter moves in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1l, which itdoes as the toggle -links straighten, this edge of the toe-piece acts on the notched portion of the lifting-lever and causes the latter to turn and elevate the carrier to its highest position before the lock l-closes'Y the breech and the toggle-links straighten. The edge of the toe-piece then becomes disengaged'from the notch, and the curved end eXX travels over the curved portion of the lifting-lever without moving the latter during the nal straightening movement of the toggle-links inclosing the breech. At the same time the sliding of the curved end eXX over the curved portion of the liftinglever effectually prevents the latter and the carrier from shifting their position relatively4 to the lock during the tiring of the gun. In

this construction of the lifting-lever it will be seen that the curved end of the toe-piece does not engage with the notch 014 when bearing upon the curved portion of the lifting-lever, as was the case with the lifting-levers of a similar kind constructed heretofore.

eS isa stop against which the toggle-links strike when in. their straightened position and by which they are prevented from rising too high in closing the breech.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. In an automatic gun, the combination with the crank, the crank-shaft, the connecting-rod and the lock, of lifting-levers for the cartridge-carrier, formed with a transverse pivot-pin having recesses to engage with the inner ends of curved slots formed in the lockcasing substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In an automatic gun, the combination with the crank, the crank-shaft, the connecting-rod and the lock, of loose pivot-pins for the tumbler, the hand-scar, the safety-scar and the side levers, of webs and fins on the side levers and of ribs on the recoil-plates, the said webs, fins and ribs operating to retain the said loose pins in position in the lock substantially as described.

3. In an automatic gun, the combination with the crank-shaft, the crank', the connecting-rod, the side levers and the lock, of a protuberance on the crank, and of a slot in the connecting-rod, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In an automatic gun, theacombination with the crank-shaft, the crank, the connecting-rod, the side levers and the lock, of protuberances di d formed on the crank D', of a slot e2 inl the connecting-rod for receiving the crank-pin, of recesses c3 e4 for the protuberances, and of curved surfaces e5 for the said protuberances to bear against during the free movement of the crank-pin in its slot e2 substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In an automatic gun, the combination with the crank-shaft, the crank, the connecting-rod, the side levers, the lock, the cartridgecarrier and the lifting-levers therefor, of toepieces on said side levers, having curved ex- IOO IIO

tremities forming arcs struck from the piv- ALBERT VICKERS.

Witnesses:

E. D. LANG, HENRY KING. 

